Calcium alginate fiber, which is a natural fiber, was prepared by extruding aqueous sodium alginate solution (4 wt%) into an aqueous calcium chloride (2 wt%) bath. Polypropylene matrix calcium alginate fiber-reinforced unidirectional composites were fabricated by compression molding. In order to reduce the strong hydrophilic nature of the fiber and also to improve the mechanical properties of the composites, calcium alginate fibers were treated with five different formulations of vinyl triethoxy silane (1—5 wt%) and methyl methacrylate (10—50 wt%) along with methanol and photoinitiator and then cured under UV radiation.
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Cecen V., Seki Y., Sarikanat M., and Tavman IHFTIR and SEM analysis of polyester- and epoxy-based composites manufactured by VARTM process. J Appl Polym Sci2008; 108: 2163-2170.
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Sreekumar PA , Albert P., Unnikrishnan G., Joseph K., and Thomas S.Mechanical and water sorption studies of ecofriendly banana fiber-reinforced polyester composites fabricated by RTM. J Appl Polym Sci2008 ; 109: 1547-1555.
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Zaman HU, Khan AH, Hossain MA, Khan MA, and Khan RAMechanical and electrical properties of calcium alginate fabrics reinforced polyethylene/polypropylene composites: Role of gamma radiation. Polym Plast Technol Eng2009; 48: 760-766.
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Fan L., Du Y., Huang R., Wang Q., and Zhang L.Preparation and characterization of alginate/gelatin blend fibers . J Appl Polym Sci2005; 96: 1625-1629.
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Fan L., Zhu H., Zheng H., Xu Y., and Zhang C.Structure and properties of blend fibers prepared from alginate and konjac glucomannan. J Appl Polym Sci2007; 106: 3903-3907.
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Lee YJ, Shin DS, Kwon OW, Park WH, Choi HG, Lee YR, et al. Preparation of atactic poly(vinyl alcohol)/ sodium alginate blend nanowebs by electrospinning. J Appl Polym Sci2007; 106: 1337-1342.
8.
Qin Y.The characterization of alginate wound dressings with different fiber and textile structures. J Appl Polym Sci2006 ; 100: 2516-2520.
Khan MA, Kopp C., and Hinrichsen G.Effect of vinyl and silicon monomers on mechanical and degradation properties of bio-degradable calcium alginate-Biopol® composite. J Reinf Plast Compos2001; 20: 1414-1429.
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Idicula M., Joseph K., and Thomas S.Mechanical performance of short banana/sisal hybrid fiber reinforced polyester composites. J Reinf Plast Compos2010; 29: 12-29.
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Khan RA, Khan MA, Sultana S., Khan MN, Shubhra QTH, and Noor FGMechanical, degradation and interfacial properties of synthetic degradable fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. J Reinf Plast Compos2010; 29: 466-476.
13.
Kuswaha PK and Kumar R.Effect of silanes on mechanical properties of bamboo fiber-epoxy composites . J Reinf Plast Compos2010; 29: 718.
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Saheb DN and Jog JPNatural fiber polymer composites: A review. Adv Polym Tech1999; 18: 351-363.
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Khan RA, Parsons AJ, Jones IA, Walker GS and Rudd CDPreparation and characterization of phosphate glass fibers and fabrication of poly(caprolactone) matrix resorbable composites. J Reinf Plast Compos2009; 00: 1-14 (accessed 23 June 2009).
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Bledzki AK, Reihmane S., and Gassan J.Properties and modification methods for vegetable fibers for natural fiber composites. J Appl Polym Sci1998; 59: 1329-1336.
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Rahman Smma , Mustafa AI, and Khan MACalcium alginate reinforced polypropylene composite: Effect of surface pretreatment by photocuring with acrylic monomers . J Reinf Plast Compos2009; 48: 1733-1745.
18.
Idicula M., Thomas, S.Effect of fibre loading and fiber ratio on the mechanical properties of intimately mixed banana/sisal hybrid fibre reinforced composites. In: 5th global wood and natural fibre composites symposium, Kessel, Germany, 2004.
19.
Ali KMI , Khan MA and Islam, MNImprovement of physicomechanical properties of hessian cloth (jute) by graft copolymerization of urethane acrylate with ultraviolet radiation. Polym Plast Technol Eng1996; 35: 53-65.
20.
Khan MA, Hossain M., and Ali KMI.Calcium alginate composite with MMA by gamma and UV radiations in the presence of additives. J Appl Polym Sci1999; 74: 900-906.
21.
Noor FG, Khan MA, Ghoshal S., Mazid RA, Chowdhury AMS, and Khan RAGrafting of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate with urea on to gelatin film by gamma radiation . J Macromol Sci Part A Pure Appl Chem2009;46: 615-624.
